China is preparing to introduce a revolutionary robot that can become pregnant using a fully functional artificial womb. This project is being developed by Kaiwa Technology in Guangzhou and is expected to debut in 2026.

Dr. Zhang Qifeng, the project lead, said at the World Robot Conference in Beijing that the science behind the technology is already strong. The next step is to integrate it into a robot capable of carrying out interactive pregnancy.

The work builds on previous progress in growing life outside the human body, a field that has shown promising results.

Artificial wombs are not entirely new. They recreate the environment of a real uterus, with artificial amniotic fluid and a tube that acts like an umbilical cord to deliver nutrients and oxygen.

In 2017, scientists in the US successfully kept premature lambs alive for weeks using similar “biobag” systems, proving that the concept is possible.

What makes Kaiwa Technology’s robot unique is that it is designed to handle the entire pregnancy process, from fertilization all the way to full-term birth. The technology is also expected to cost around 100,000 yuan (£11,000), which is much cheaper than traditional human surrogacy.

This innovation comes in response to rising infertility rates, especially in China, and could offer a new solution for families struggling to have children.